Platinum Dragon
Barythos, the Platinum Dragon is the god of good-aligned dragons and metallic dragons, being considered the first of their kind. He is also the god of nobility and chivalry, and a sworn enemy of Eldrdrakke, the Dragon Empress and mother of all chromatic dragons.
Contents
Description
Appearance
While silver and gold dragons are generally used by mortals to represent Barythos (since they are visually and morally similar), the divine form of the Platinum Dragon is quite different: he instead appears as a gargantuan astral dragon of immense wingspan and size. He sports a coat of iridescent scales of vibrant platinum colors, and unlike other dragons, his wings appear ethereal with a blue radiance.Personality
Through magical plaques beneath a ruined temple that recited the Platinum Dragon's commandments in his voice, the dragon god appeared as a regal and stern figure towards the Griffin Guard. When Zylfyra attempted to dispel a set of magical gates in their path, the voice of Barythos spoke up, educating the party that cheating their way through his trials would be fruitless. Even in his lowest tone, the very walls shook with force from the projection of his voice and presence.Commandments of the Platinum Dragon
Commandments of the Platinum Dragon
- Always stand as a paragon of hope and justice.
- Evil can only be held at bay by those willing to confront it and make sacrifices against it.
- Defend the weak and innocent, and function as a beacon light in the dark for those who have strayed from righteousness.
History
The Age of Birth and the Heavenly War
The Platinum Dragon were among one of the four Prime Deities who brought life into the cosmos, and are known also as the Prime Creators. Together these four deities gave shape to the world of Rhan, the Inner Planes of primordial energy, and the Outer Planes of thoughts and morals, starting with the High Heavens, home of the Prime Deities. The High Heavens would be the kingdom of Barythos, where he'd rule it atop Mount Celesta alongside his partner Eldrdrakke who would later betray him and become the Dragon Empress, Fallen God o Greed and Vengeance. When the differences between the Prime Deities led to the Heavenly Wars, Barythos was forced to battle his own partner as she too had malevolent plans regarding mortals on Rhan. Once the dust had settled, and the Prime Deities had successfully managed to imprison the Fallen Gods into their respective planes, Barythos retired back into the High Heavens to mend his wounds and wouldn't interact with Rhan again until several eons later.The Age of Dragonkin
The Age of Dragonkin began around 10,000 BE with the arrival of dragons on the face of Rhan, following a natural event known as the Rain of Stars, during which different types of dragon wyrmlings arrived on Rhan through meteors that fell from the Astral Sea. Many of these dragons, regardless of alignment, quickly took a liking to both the fear and devotion they received from the other races, often acting as advisors, protectors, or rulers. The Platinum Dragon made contact with many of these dragons, especially those who bore metallic scales and leaned more toward good-aligned actions. Through his will, these dragons became the first protectors of the Material Plane, acting on the orders of Barythos directly to root out other dragons who had sided with the Dragon Empress instead. These dragons bore scales of various chromatic colors, often gaining devotion through fear and power granted to them by the Dragon Empress herself. During the Age of Dragonkin, the Dragon Empress managed to emerge from her eternal imprisonment in the Unending Hells, determined to rule all of Rhan alongside her chromatic children. Thanks to the intervention of the Platinum Dragon and his legion of metallic dragons, however, a battle between the two dragon deities took place, shaking the core of Rhan itself, and the Dragon Empress was banished back to her own plane, with only her chromatic dragons who still dwell on Wildemyst remaining as her legacy. Likewise, many of the metallic dragons perished during the battle, forcing many of them into seclusion out of fear of death or exploitation. Only a select few of the most powerful dragons continued serving as advisors for the mortals but refused to partake in any conflicts that might occur in the future.The Age of Arcanists
The Platinum Dragon continued to serve as a symbol of chivalry and honor for many of the races on Rhan, fostering countless orders of knights and clerics who roamed the world in his name. Sometime during this age of magic and wonder, the race of dragons began making secret pacts with ambitious spellcasters in exchange for power and wealth. These alliances led to the creation of the first dragonborn, also known as wyrmkin to their draconic cousins. While originally intended as servants for the dragons, the race of dragonborn quickly multiplied and spread across all of Rhan, primarily inhabiting its northern regions. A rebellion against their dragon overlords was sparked, further culling the population of dragons across the Material Plane. While many dragonborn revere their shared blood with dragons, some still remember the origin of their race, choosing instead to hunt down their draconic cousins in search of fame, glory, and power.The Infernal Conquest
During the Infernal Conquest it was the Platinum Dragon's blood that soaked the Platin Isle granting it its namesake to this day, as he battled the Dragon Empress upon it. Though mortally wounded, he survived the aftermath of the war but with his physical form gravely harmed the Platinum Dragon was confied to Mount Celesta until his wounds woud mend.The Rhanic Empire
While the Lightbearer was the patron deity of humans during their conquest of Wildemyst, it was the Platinum Dragon who personally appeared before Emperor Arterius Thran at his deathbed, decades after he had formed the Rhanic Empire. The Platinum Dragon presented himself to all who were present, in a humanoid form that was part man, part dragon. The dragon god offered the dying emperor a seat among the Prime Deities for his actions during his mortal life. Likewise, he also rewarded the Thran dynasty with the Platinum Crown, a Fragment of Divinity symbolizing their legitimacy as rulers of Wildemyst, so long as they remained true to the values of the Prime Deities."Do not fret and do not weep. The good deeds that you, Emperor Arterius, have provided for your subjects outweigh the sorrow of your departure, and you will, for all eternity, be remembered as the benevolent ruler you were. Now, that mantle falls upon your kin. You have laid the foundation of an empire sought to bring justice, stability, and security to all walks of life, and so long as the true line of emperors remains true to these principles, I, the Platinum Dragon, god of Nobility and Justice, will safeguard the realm of mortals for time immemorial. I, therefore, leave you with my Fragment of Divinity, a crown of pure platinum much like your own, yet imbued with the righteous powers to rule. As for you, Emperor Arterius, I offer you a splendid afterlife among the gods themselves so that you may one day become a symbol of divinity yourself".After this event in Rhanic history, the Platinum Dragon would always be associated with the Thran family and the promise they made when they accepted the Platinum Crown, which led to the Thran dynasty adopting a platinum dragon for their family crest.
Artifacts
Blood of Barythos
The Blood of Barythos is one of the Fragments of Divinity associated with the Platinum Dragon. Contained within a reinforced vial shaped like the head of a dragon is a single drop of the Platinum Dragon's blood, which holds great divine power. The blood itself is iridescent and has a vague hue of red that shimmers with radiant energy. While on one's person, the wielder may expend charges from the vial to apply powerful effects to themselves or their weapon. Anything from being granted resistances to the breath of dragons to smiting a foe with the might of the Platinum Dragon itself can be applied. However, the blood does not answer to just anybody, as one must swear a lifelong oath to the Platinum Dragon in order to wield the blood. August Summershade, despite having lived a life of thievery and roguish behavior, found purpose in the commandments of the Platinum Dragon and swore the oath in the presence of the Griffin Guard, granting him access to the Blood of Barythos.Honor's Call
Honor's Call, sometimes referred to as the 'Horn of Barythos,' is a legendary handheld warhorn said to have been made from one of the horns of the Platinum Dragon himself. The horn itself has the appearance of dragon bones with a reinforced casing made of platinum and a leather strap. Those who wield Honor's Call gain the ability to inspire their allies in the face of danger, granting them immunity to being frightened while also bolstering their vitality and chances to hit the enemy.Platinum Crown
The Platinum Crown is by far one of the most famous of all the Fragments of Divinity, which is in no small part due to its significance with the Rhanic Empire and its rulers. Having been bestowed upon the Thran Dynasty by the Platinum Dragon himself following the death of Emperor Arterius Thran, the crown serves as a powerful symbol of authority throughout the empire. The crown is made of a platinum circlet adorned with various sapphires and draconic heads protruding from its base. According to legend, the crown is semi-sentient and capable of sensing if it is being wielded by one not of the Thran dynasty, upon which it will release a psychic blast as a warning. If a member of the Thran dynasty wears the crown, they gain immunity to charm and illusion effects, greatly bolstered general health, and their very voice resonates with the wisdom of all the emperors who came before. Once in a lifetime, the crown has the capacity to release a powerful blast to attempt to dispel any foul magic or corruption festering within a creature of the wielder's choice. Once this ability is used, it won't become available again until the next emperor in line for the throne dons the crown and proves their worthiness to it.Places of worship and holy sites
Wildemyst
The Platinum Dragon is worshiped all throughout Wildemyst, especially among dragonborn and nobles who live by his values of chivalry and honor. His largest following remains within the Rhanic Empire, given his association with the Thran Dynasty.- Chantry of the Divine: Despite being a place of worship for all the Prime Deities, the shrine of the Platinum Dragon at the Chantry of the Divine in Evergrace is by far the largest compared to his peers.
Relationships
August Summershade
When the Griffin Guard set out for the Trials of Thran to uncover the secrets of Heaven's Foundry, they stumbled upon a ruined temple dedicated to the Platinum Dragon long ago. Once their business had been concluded at the site, a secret underground vault uncovered by Zylfyra appeared before the party, which contained the Fragment of Divinity known as the Blood of Barythos. While August had never placed much faith in the divine, his travels with the Griffin Guard made him realize that some gods do indeed harbor good intentions toward mortals, and as such, he pledged himself to an oath to uphold the principles of the Platinum Dragon. This was one of the many defining turning points in the lifelong rogue's life.Gwyndolin Cartwright
Gwyndolin openly worships the Platinum Dragon and is a devout cleric in his service, though she also possesses the attributes of a paladin but has yet to swear any oath.
Symbol of Barythos, by Midjourney
Deity Information
Type: Prime DeityTitle(s):
- The Platinum Dragon
Gender: Male
Alignment: Lawful Good (LG)
Home Plane: High Heavens
Realm: Mount Celesta
Worship
Worshipers: Metallic dragons/dragonborn, knights, noblesHoly Day: Everhope (20th of Highflame)
Major Temples: Chantry of the Divine
Associated domains:
- Life
- War
- Order
- Blood of Barythos
- Honor's Call
- Platinum Crown
Children
Gallery
Artwork of the Platinum Dragon on Mount Celesta
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